Penobscot, ME

Moderate Risk (48/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Penobscot in Maine · Population: 153,571

TRI sites such as Nd Paper Inc.; Eldur Corp; Ge Vernova Bangor; SDWIS systems such as BANGOR WATER DISTRICT; BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT; OLD TOWN WATER DISTRICT; NPL sites such as Eastland Woolen Mill; West Site/Hows Corners anchor Penobscot, ME's EPA extract. Derived burden score 48/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Penobscot include BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT; HAMPDEN WATER DISTRICT; DEXTER UTILITY DISTRICT, while Nd Paper Inc. leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 33 / peak 84 in 2024.

Burden score 48/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Penobscot -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Penobscot, ME: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-77.3%

5 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-77.3%

128.1 thousand lb → 29.0 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Penobscot, ME's total reported releases fell from 128.1 thousand lb in 2022 to 29.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Penobscot, ME's off-site transfers fell from 596 lb in 2022 to 124 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Penobscot, ME's water releases fell from 5.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Penobscot, ME's air releases fell from 122.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 27.7 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
153,571
TRI Facilities
6
Water Systems
44
Superfund Sites
2
Total Releases
536.7K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 328 (91%) 34 0 84
2023 294 (82%) 64 0 89
2022 324 (90%) 37 0 87
2021 326 (90%) 36 0 100
2020 338 (93%) 25 0 76
2024 Good Air Quality: 91% of days
Median AQI: 33

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Maine, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (44)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
BANGOR WATER DISTRICT 27,298 0
BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT 8,860 2
OLD TOWN WATER DISTRICT 7,648 0
ORONO-VEAZIE WATER DISTRICT 5,793 0
HAMPDEN WATER DISTRICT 4,628 1
LINCOLN WATER DISTRICT 3,020 0
DEXTER UTILITY DISTRICT 2,338 2
EAST MILLINOCKET WATER WORKS 2,133 0
HOWLAND WATER DEPARTMENT 1,025 0
MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 468 0
PATTEN WATER DEPT 338 0
SUN HANCOCK HEIGHTS- EAST 158 2
COUNTRY MOBILE HOME PARK 155 0
SUN HANCOCK HEIGHTS-WEST 155 0
PLYMOUTH WATER DISTRICT 150 0
GRANDEUR MOBILE HOME ESTATES 100 0
SOUTH SLOPE ESTATES MHP 100 0
WOODED GROVE MOBILE HOME PARK 90 0
UNITY BY THE STREAM LLC 88 43
CORINNA WATER DISTRICT 80 0
WILLOWBROOK MOBILE HOME PARK 75 0
HAVASU PINES MHP 75 0
SCROGGINS MOBILE HOME PARK 73 0
HAVASU PINES MHP #1 65 0
STREETS MOBILE HOME PARK 65 0
ROCKY RIDGE SUBDIVISION 64 0
BOULIER PLACE APTS 60 2
CORINTHIAN MANOR 60 0
DEER RUN APTS 60 0
SUNNY GABLES- GLENBURN HOUSING 60 6
TOWNE CENTER-RIDGEWOOD APARTMENTS 60 0
PERSISTENCE SENIORS HOUSING 60 0
FAIRGROUND APARTMENTS 60 0
TOWN HALL APTS - LAGRANGE 60 0
VIGNEAULTS MOBILE HOME PARK 53 0
GEORGE POND ESTATES LLC 50 2
MAPLE RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK 50 1
HARRIMAN COVE PARK LLC 45 0
BENJAMIN RIVER APTS 45 1
ROCKY RIDGE SUBDIVISION II 40 0
FAITH BIBLE COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL 35 0
MATTAWAMKEAG HOUSING CORP 33 1
SKYLINE TRAILER PARK 28 0
EXETER WATER DEPARTMENT 25 0

TRI Facilities (6)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Nd Paper Inc. 525.9K lbs
2 Eldur Corp 6.9K lbs
3 Ge Vernova Bangor 3.1K lbs
4 Ge Vernova Bangor 707 lbs
5 U.S. Army Maine National Guard Bangor Training Site Range 27 lbs
6 Brenntag Lubricants North East-Hampden 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (2)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Eastland Woolen Mill NPL Site 70.71
West Site/Hows Corners NPL Site 50.00

Cities in Penobscot (19)

Bangor
4 facilities · 24 water
Old Town
1 facilities · 4 water
Hampden
1 facilities · 2 water
Orono
0 facilities · 7 water
Carmel
0 facilities · 4 water
Brewer
0 facilities · 3 water
Charleston
0 facilities · 2 water
Corinna
0 facilities · 2 water
Dexter
0 facilities · 1 water
East Millinocket
0 facilities · 1 water
Exeter
0 facilities · 1 water
Hermon
0 facilities · 1 water
Howland
0 facilities · 1 water
Kenduskeag
0 facilities · 1 water
Lincoln
0 facilities · 1 water
Newport
0 facilities · 1 water
Patten
0 facilities · 1 water
Plymouth
0 facilities · 1 water
Stetson
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Penobscot, Maine?
Penobscot, ME has an environmental risk score of 48/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 6 TRI facilities, 2 Superfund sites, and 44 water systems on record. 11 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Penobscot?
Yes, Penobscot, ME has 2 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Penobscot?
Penobscot, ME has 6 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 536.7K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Penobscot?
In 2024, Penobscot, ME recorded a median AQI of 33 and a peak AQI of 84. 91% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Penobscot?
Penobscot, ME has 44 EPA-regulated water systems. 11 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Penobscot?
Environmental compliance in Penobscot, Maine is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Maine state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro